Joseph W. Kacl Killed
Fighting 'Red Demon'
in Broadway Building
"Killed in action--while saving lives and protecting
property."
That is the final chapter of a fire hero's life--the last contribution to the
Department and the city by Joseph W. Kacl, who Monday afternoon, November 6th, got his
Final Transfer while fighting the Broadway fire in the Gray Building.
It was 2:02 Monday afternoon. The gong at Headquarters tapped:
One--one--three-three (indicating the box number at Third and Broadway.) In less than five
minutes the company rolled up to the Gray Building, 336 1/2 South Broadway. And these men
rolled up to a raging inferno of billowing smoke through which licked the long, ever sharp
arms of scorching flames.
The blaze was a stubborn, dangerous and heavy smoke fire--but every man faced
this with the highest courage that men can attain. There was work to be done, and these
brave men did that work without a look behind. None faltered. It was a glorious day for
the Los Angeles Fire Department as they shot up fire escapes and ladders with hose lines
and axes to do battle with the Red Demon.
Even as death-dealing bricks, sharp pieces of cornice, flaming timber, charred
wood fixtures, showered upon them like a storm of death the boys carried on. It was into
such a setting that Fireman Joe Kacl and his companions stepped, onto an upper floor
carrying a kicking, squirming heavy line of hose, charged with tons of power-driven water.
Joe and his pals did not give a thought to the strangling, suffocating fumes, as
even, without a look back to their Chief, they charged the innermost inferno of the Red
Demon of death and destruction, that they could play their line on the white-hot flames
which seared their bodies through the choking smoke.
Suddenly, the floor shook under their feet--it was sickening--fresh flames
enveloped the men. They knew it was coming; they tried to leap to safety, but insecure
footing, wet floors, debris which tripped then; scorching flames and death fumes--
Crash! down they were hurled amidst flooring timber, printing machinery, and
fixtures. Down--down--down towards an inferno of death. A miracle for the boys, except
Joe--all were hurled to safety--while he was carried on down into a flaming pyre. Then
quiet--
(Please turn page ten)
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A LETTER
TO JOE
FROM THE GANG
To Fireman Joe Kacl,
Station in the Sky
Dear Joe--Well, Joe, we have surely missed you at Truck 3 since the
Big Chief transferred you to His Station up there.
There
sure is a blank space around here that we can't just seem to fill. We came
back to the Station, Joe, after your transfer, and, believe me, we were a
pretty sick-looking lot. We just couldn't understand why He had to transfer
you. We needed you here, Joe, and we were just doing fine with you to help us
out with your usual work of cheer when the going was tough or we felt blue.
But He must have needed a real good man up there, Joe, worse than we did here,
and we who worked with you know that he picked one who was every inch a man,
one who always did just a little more than his share of the work, and asked
just a little less credit for his efforts. One who was always ready to go out
of his way to do some friend a favor, large or small, and asked nothing in
return.
That's why we miss you so, Joe; those little favors and boosts were something
we just took for granted while you were here, but now that you're gone we
really miss them.
Well,
Joe, I know you'll have a good time up there at your new Station, with all the
Old Timers. You know you'll be a "rookie" now, but don't let that
worry you, Joe. Just ask some of the Old Timers, such as Captain Henry, or
Chief Edwards, or some of the others up there. They'll give you the low-down.
And through the years, as each one of us are transferred up there to try and
lend you a hand, you can pass the information on to us; for we'll need it then
worse than you do now. And, of course, it is just like our probation. We have
to work in three stations while serving our probation, and eventually we will
all be transferred to our Final Station up with you. So, up until then, Joe,
you have left something with us here at 3s which we will never forget and
which we truly appreciate.
Oh!
yes, Joe, I almost forgot. The ball players up there are going to get a break,
too, for if they don't have a league we know you will organize one, and with
your usual thoroughness will make it a success.
Well,
Joe, we just wanted you to know that we really miss you here and we know we'll
never have any one who can fill your place in the same unselfish and untiring
way in which you did.
THE GANG |